By The Olive Grove
Ask anyone to think of something Italian and they will certainly mention
olive oil and olive trees, and follow that with a smile, as they look off in
the distance, imagining some idyllic country scene, where food and wine and oil
are the main protagonists. Well, don’t fault them – we agree full heartedly!
We may not tell you that the olive tree is traditionally a symbol of
peace, health and prosperity, and has been praised, sung and painted by artists since ancient times.
The first olive trees in Italy arrived with the Greek by sea and were first cultivated by the Etruscans – today, there are olive trees as old as Romanesque Cathedrals!
In 1985, a severe frost in Tuscany destroyed many old olive trees: all it took for them to recover, however, was to remove the dead wood in spring and allow the new shoots to grow. Olive trees are also drought friendly trees: they don’t need to be watered, and can live and produce for over 1,000 years... They are basically indestructible!
What we will tell you immediately instead is that there is nothing like sitting in an olive grove, sharing a meal and good wine with friends. There is something about being so close to nature, surrounded by these quiet, weathered, century-old trees that makes carving out time from our busy schedule and making a trip to the country worthwhile.
And, seriously, nothing beats real Italian bruschetta
(pr. Bru – sKeTTa, please!).
The Tuscan recipe calls for slices of unsalted toasted bread, a good garlic rub (the more, the more authentic!), and a generous swirl of freshly pressed virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Una meraviglia!
